A past performance by Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Ensemble OrQuestra at Christchurch (photo: Peter Mould).
Baroque theme for HPC’s autumn concert
Hastings Philharmonic Choir offers a programme of baroque music in its autumn concert on 5 November, with foremost examples of the art by composers from three different countries. Nick Terdre reports.
Hastings Philharmonic Choir is dedicating its autumn concert to the baroque music that flourished in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. The three pieces in the programme reflect the glories of German, English and French baroque music – Bach’s Magnificat in D, My Heart is Inditing by Purcell and the Te Deum by Charpentier.
The choir will be accompanied by the baroque Ensemble OrQuestra and conducted by its musical director Marcio da Silva. The soloists are all leading UK singers: Poppy Shotts and Rachel Allen (sopranos), Helen May (mezzo–soprano), John Twitchen (tenor) and Jack Lawrence-Jones (baritone).
Bach composed more than one version of the Magnificat, but the version chosen for this concert, first performed in 1733, has become one of his most popular vocal pieces. Purcell’s composition My Heart is Inditing was written for the coronation of King James II in 1685. (“Inditing” means “composing” or “telling.”)
Charpentier composed six settings for the Te Deum, of which the chosen version has become the most popular, perhaps because of the prelude which has become the anthem for the Eurovision Song Contest!
“It is so wonderful to be back to near full strength and to see and hear how much the members of the Choir are enjoying rehearsing for this wonderful programme of Baroque music, with a number performing with the Choir for the first time,” said chairman John Rycroft.
Baroque Evening with Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Ensemble OrQuestra Saturday 5 November at 7.30pm, Christ Church, Silchester Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6GL. Tickets £12.50-£20, students/under 18s £5, plus booking fee. Available via the HPC website or on the door.
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